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Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia
Introduction Physical activity is known to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mortality, and healthcare costs. However, physical inactivity remains high worldwide, increasing the NCD disease burden risk. Office workers have reported high physical inactivity levels during and after...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Division of Physiotherapy
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614308840505344 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Nyazika, Blessing |
| author2 | Maart, Soraya |
| author_browse | Maart, Soraya Nyazika, Blessing |
| author_facet | Maart, Soraya Nyazika, Blessing |
| author_sort | Nyazika, Blessing |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Introduction Physical activity is known to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mortality, and healthcare costs. However, physical inactivity remains high worldwide, increasing the NCD disease burden risk. Office workers have reported high physical inactivity levels during and after working hours. Previous studies have investigated the efficacy of various physical activity interventions to break sedentary behaviour in this population. There is limited data on physical activity among office-based workers in Namibia. Understanding their perceptions of physical activity will help inform interventions and policies to enhance participation. Aim The aim of this study was to assess physical activity levels, barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia. Methods A An explanatory-sequential mixed-methods study was conducted, and 217 office workers were surveyed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess their physical activity levels. The questionnaire included sections on demographic details, work, travel, leisure-based physical activity, and daily sitting time. Semi structured interviews were carried out with 26 participants from the surveyed sample to understand their barriers and facilitators of physical activity. Results The mean age of the participants was 38 years. Female participants made up 63% of the surveyed sample. The majority of the participants had over five years of employment experience, and the average daily sitting time was 8 hours. Sixty-four percent of office workers were physically active, and 65% of them were either overweight or obese. The mean BMI of the participants was 28.2 kg/m². Four themes were generated from the thematic analysis of qualitative data. Office workers were aware of what physical activity entails but had varied opinions on the recommended guidelines. Time constraints were cited as the main barrier while they were motivated to participate in physical activity for health and self-care reasons. Office workers suggested the provision of more facilities and support in the workplace and community for increased participation in physical activity. Conclusion The majority of participants in the study were physically active, but they were either overweight or obese. A multi-factorial approach to a healthy lifestyle is necessary in addition to physical activity. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41195 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:49:59.294Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Division of Physiotherapy |
| publisherStr | Division of Physiotherapy |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41195 Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia Nyazika, Blessing Maart, Soraya Gradidge, Philippe non-communicable diseases NCDs mortality healthcare costs office-based workers Grootfontein Namibia Introduction Physical activity is known to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mortality, and healthcare costs. However, physical inactivity remains high worldwide, increasing the NCD disease burden risk. Office workers have reported high physical inactivity levels during and after working hours. Previous studies have investigated the efficacy of various physical activity interventions to break sedentary behaviour in this population. There is limited data on physical activity among office-based workers in Namibia. Understanding their perceptions of physical activity will help inform interventions and policies to enhance participation. Aim The aim of this study was to assess physical activity levels, barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia. Methods A An explanatory-sequential mixed-methods study was conducted, and 217 office workers were surveyed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess their physical activity levels. The questionnaire included sections on demographic details, work, travel, leisure-based physical activity, and daily sitting time. Semi structured interviews were carried out with 26 participants from the surveyed sample to understand their barriers and facilitators of physical activity. Results The mean age of the participants was 38 years. Female participants made up 63% of the surveyed sample. The majority of the participants had over five years of employment experience, and the average daily sitting time was 8 hours. Sixty-four percent of office workers were physically active, and 65% of them were either overweight or obese. The mean BMI of the participants was 28.2 kg/m². Four themes were generated from the thematic analysis of qualitative data. Office workers were aware of what physical activity entails but had varied opinions on the recommended guidelines. Time constraints were cited as the main barrier while they were motivated to participate in physical activity for health and self-care reasons. Office workers suggested the provision of more facilities and support in the workplace and community for increased participation in physical activity. Conclusion The majority of participants in the study were physically active, but they were either overweight or obese. A multi-factorial approach to a healthy lifestyle is necessary in addition to physical activity. 2025-03-17T09:58:29Z 2025-03-17T09:58:29Z 2024 2025-03-17T09:35:57Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41195 en eng application/pdf Division of Physiotherapy Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | non-communicable diseases NCDs mortality healthcare costs office-based workers Grootfontein Namibia Nyazika, Blessing Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia |
| title_full | Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia |
| title_short | Physical activity levels, perceived barriers, and facilitators among office-based workers in Grootfontein, Namibia |
| title_sort | physical activity levels perceived barriers and facilitators among office based workers in grootfontein namibia |
| topic | non-communicable diseases NCDs mortality healthcare costs office-based workers Grootfontein Namibia |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41195 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nyazikablessing physicalactivitylevelsperceivedbarriersandfacilitatorsamongofficebasedworkersingrootfonteinnamibia |